Assembly should take control of hospital changes

Posted: Friday, September 03, 2010

I am in total agreement with the mayor on the necessity of the Borough Assembly stepping in and taking back the control of the Hospital. Over the years, since in the late 1970s, I have had to use the Emergency Room because of Pulmonary problems many times, but not since the new addition has been added. It appears to be well designed and having visited people there, very comfortable.

The problem I see is a need for a change in Managers. Being personally acquainted with some of the employees, and the seeming continuing problems with labor, any major company I have worked for would be trying to keep the employees somewhat satisfied. Why would we want a company in Texas buying controlling interest in our public owned Hospital when it appears that they have not proven themselves as managers of other facilities. The most desirable arrangement to me would be a working agreement with Providence Hospital as they already associate with Homer and Seward and I believe Kodiak. In my home area of Northern Iowa, the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., has become the center for a large number of hospitals within 100 or more miles of their base. We seem to be well connected with Providence as I personally have had to be airlifted to Anchorage.